Papers by Sankarganesh Egambaram
Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis spp.) - A Pest of Economically Important Fruit and Plantation Crops: Its Status and Management Prospects
Journal of Plant Health Issues, Jun 11, 2020
International Journal of Chemical Studies, 2020
Phosphine fumigant is widely used to control stored insect pest infestation in grains. The study ... more Phosphine fumigant is widely used to control stored insect pest infestation in grains. The study on Aluminium Phosphide (ALP) fumigation was conducted to find out the effect of relative humidity on concentration of phosphine. Aluminium phosphide (tablet) 56% formulation was used for fumigation of two stacks of pigeon pea grains, each of 4 MT capacities. During fumigation first stack the humidity was ranged 60 to 70% and another stack the humidity was between 50 to 60%. Fumigation procedure carried out as per National Standards of Phytosanitary Measures (NSPM) with dose rate of 3 tablets / MT for 10 days exposure period. Phosphine concentration was monitored in both stacks from 1 to 10 days after fumigation. After 24 hrs (1 day) of treatment the average phosphine concentration was 340 ppm in stack with higher humidity and terminal concentration (after 10 days) was 315 ppm, whereas in stacks with lower humidity the concentration was 309 ppm and 184 ppm after 24 hrs and 10 days respectively. The results revealed that concentration of phosphine was directly proportional to the humidity.
Indian Journal of Animal Health, 2019
Crop protection chemicals known as pesticides are playing a significant role to ensure food secur... more Crop protection chemicals known as pesticides are playing a significant role to ensure food security. Besides controlling pests in agriculture, they are also used in human and animal health programmes. Development of resistant pests poses a real challenge towards the effectiveness of these toxic pesticides leading to their increased application associated with residual toxicity in food and environment. An estimated 954 pest species which include arthropods, weeds and plant pathogens have developed resistance against various types of pesticides, viz. insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Resistance development in pest populations is influenced by biological, genetic and operational factors. Various mechanisms involved in resistance development in insects, microbes and weeds are discussed. The extent of insecticide, fungicide and herbicide resistance in various pest species is also highlighted. Effective pest and resistance management practices require understanding the factors influencing its development. The important role of Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC), Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) and Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) for resistance management is indicated. Strategies to mitigate the resistance development in conventional pesticides, use of Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIPs) and biopesticides as alternative to chemical pesticides along with some general recommendations are suggested for adoption.
Crop protection chemicals known as pesticides are playing a significant role to ensure food secur... more Crop protection chemicals known as pesticides are playing a significant role to ensure food security. Besides controlling pests in agriculture, they are also used in human and animal health programmes. Development of resistant pests poses a real challenge towards the effectiveness of these toxic pesticides leading to their increased application associated with residual toxicity in food and environment. An estimated 954 pest species which include arthropods, weeds and plant pathogens have developed resistance against various types of pesticides, viz. insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Resistance development in pest populations is influenced by biological, genetic and operational factors. Various mechanisms involved in resistance development in insects, microbes and weeds are discussed. The extent of insecticide, fungicide and herbicide resistance in various pest species is also highlighted. Effective pest and resistance management practices require understanding the factors influencing its development. The important role of Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC), Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) and Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) for resistance management is indicated. Strategies to mitigate the resistance development in conventional pesticides, use of Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIPs) and biopesticides as alternative to chemical pesticides along with some general recommendations are suggested for adoption.
Insects are the world's most diverse group of animals on Earth, in terms of both taxonomic divers... more Insects are the world's most diverse group of animals on Earth, in terms of both taxonomic diversity and ecological function accounting 75 % of the known species of animals.Approximately 30 million species are found worldwide, of which about 1.4 million have been briefly described.Less than 3% of all species of insects have aquatic stages in some freshwater biotopes. India is one among the twelve mega biodiversity countries of the world, constitute nearly 7% of the world insect fauna. Current estimate shows that out of nearly 63,760 species of insect species in India, about 21,166 species are endemic. The diversity of insects is greater in the northeastern states, the Western Ghats and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and these areas also have a high level of endemism. Insects are becoming extinct because of habitat loss, over-exploitation, pollution, overpopulation and the threat of global climatic changes. Insect biodiversity has a significant role in the maintenance of the ecosystem. So, there is increasing need for taxonomic information and services in our society, particularly for biodiversity assessment for attaining an environmentally sustainable future. Several biodiversity indices were used to study the species richness in the area. With the recent advancement in science, the new method called DNA barcoding, a tool of DNA-based taxonomy is used to identify known and unknown species on the basis of the pattern of nucleotide arrangement in a fragment of DNA from target species. In order to speed up taxonomic identification, DNA barcoding is now been considered as an alternative tool for insect biodiversity identification in India and the World.
The tea mosquito bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the recognized pest of fruits and plantations across... more The tea mosquito bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the recognized pest of fruits and plantations across the world. In India, three species viz. Helopeltis antonii, H. bradyi and H. theivora are dominant among different species and found attacking a wide range of crops. Several alternate host plants of the tea mosquito bug have been recorded, especially in Africa and Asia. The nymphs and adults of the tea mosquito bug suck the sap from leaves, buds and shoots, which results in heavy crop losses. The pest posing a serious challenge in domestic and overseas trades. For better management decisions, it is very much important to know about pest status, bionomics, distribution, host range, etc. The focus on the management of tea mosquito bug has to emphasize from chemical to traditional, indigenous technical knowledge and integrated pest management using the accessible resources to reduce the resistance development and limit the residual effects. This review highlights the significant works conducted on tea mosquito bug with detailed management strategies. The information on current status, host preference, incidence and early detection of this pest are discussed.
Agriculture is the prime source of income in developing countries with 60 percent of people direc... more Agriculture is the prime source of income in developing countries with 60 percent of people directly or indirectly linked. With the advancement in the agricultural sector, the productivity of crops is increased manifold. Nevertheless, early detection and control of pest infestations are still a major concern. Delayed or improper application of pesticides at right time may favor an increase in crop loss. Though farmers keep trying to conserve crops, they are unable to succeed at the maximum level due to inadequate monitoring and proper management practices. Also, most of the producers are adopting unsuitable methods for monitoring the crops due to a lack of sufficient facilities. The involvement of hi-tech agriculture and the influence of technology in the agricultural sector have been always productive since its commencement. In recent times, various techniques and innovative technologies were introduced to replace manual involvement. Of which, drone technology was applied for various agricultural purposes viz., crop pest protection, crop nutrient application, crop growth monitoring etc. The use of drone technology has the potential to provide a sustainable solution in the context of enhancing the productivity as well as efficiency of the agriculture sector. The present review focused on drone technology and its significance in crop protection.
In this study, field trial was conducted to determine the effect of meteorological parameters on ... more In this study, field trial was conducted to determine the effect of meteorological parameters on the incidence and developm ent of aphids, Aphis gossypii G lover of cotton at four different phases of plant protection between October, 2014 and March, 2015 at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Vallanad, Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu. The overall mean population ranged from 5.16 to 13.14/ three leaves. The contribution of w eather parameters to the tune of 23 to 41% on the incidence of aphids in SVPR 4 cotton is on record. The pest population was started from the first w eek of November on three weeks old crop and peaked seven times (4, 7, 12, 14, 16, 19 and 21 W AS) in reproductive phase protection; six times during vegetative phase protection (5, 9, 12, 14, 16 and 18 W AS); four peaks in complete protection (7, 12, 15 and 17 W AS) and untreated conditions (8, 14, 18 and 22 WAS). The highest aphid population was noticed during 8th (December 2 nd week), 13th (January 3rd week) and 14th (January 4th week) weeks after sowing with 22.78, 20.76 and 21.56 numbers/3 leaves respectively in untreated condition. Among the studied w eather factors, only four parameters such as wind velocity, evaporation, rainfall and relative humidity influenced the incidence of aphid. K ey w o rd s : Cotton, aphids, w eather factors, population dynamics
to assess the effect of different temperature regimes on biology of bruchid (Callosobruchus macul... more to assess the effect of different temperature regimes on biology of bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus Fab.) and curculionid (Sitophilus zeamais Mots.). These pests cause severe damage to stored grains and thus studies were conducted to understand the effect the four different temperatures ranging from 20 to 35°C on their biology. The developmental period viz., incubation, larval, pupal, adult longevity were found to decrease with increase in temperature in both of these stored grain pests. Preoviposition and oviposition periods showed the similar trend in both the insects studied. However, it was found that fecundity was higher at 30°C in both the insects. Low and higher temperatures reduced the fecundity rates of these insects. This study concludes that temperature deviations from the optimum cause harmful effects on the biology of bruchid and curculionid and higher temperatures during the developmental stages of insects cause rapid population build up and higher population size within short period of time, thus resulting in higher per cent of grain infestation during storage of food grains.
Studies on effects of gamma radiation on life stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) of pulse beetle... more Studies on effects of gamma radiation on life stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) was conducted in the laboratory with different packing materials viz., polypropylene bag (70 micron), HDPE bag (100 micron), HDPE bag (200 micron), PVC container and laminated urea bag. The packing materials contained withfresh and infested grains ofpigeonpea, mungbean and chickpea with pulse beetle. Seeds containing 24 hrs old eggs, 10 days old larvae, 6 days old pupae and 1 day old virgin adults of pulse beetlewere exposed to radiation source in gamma chamber-5000 with different dosages viz., 400 Gy, 650 Gy and 850 Gy. Complete mortality of egg, larva, pupa and sterility of adult was noticed in all the doses. Post emergence studies were carried out after treatment and were continued up to six months in all the doses of treatment which showed nil emergence of pulse beetle. The treated packing materials were monitored regularly for pulse beetle re-infestation and re-infestation was not recorded which remained fresh. The results showed that lower dose of 400 Gy were found to be effectiveagainst all life stages ofpulse beetle. The irradiation with gamma rays greatly influencing the growth and development of C. chinensis, which can be considered as a safe method of control in pulses.
Phosphine fumigant is widely used to control stored insect pest infestation in grains. The study ... more Phosphine fumigant is widely used to control stored insect pest infestation in grains. The study on Aluminium Phosphide (ALP) fumigation was conducted to find out the effect of relative humidity on concentration of phosphine. Aluminium phosphide (tablet) 56% formulation was used for fumigation of two stacks of pigeon pea grains, each of 4 MT capacities. During fumigation first stack the humidity was ranged 60 to 70% and another stack the humidity was between 50 to 60%. Fumigation procedure carried out as per National Standards of Phytosanitary Measures (NSPM) with dose rate of 3 tablets / MT for 10 days exposure period. Phosphine concentration was monitored in both stacks from 1 to 10 days after fumigation. After 24 hrs (1 day) of treatment the average phosphine concentration was 340 ppm in stack with higher humidity and terminal concentration (after 10 days) was 315 ppm, whereas in stacks with lower humidity the concentration was 309 ppm and 184 ppm after 24 hrs and 10 days respectively. The results revealed that concentration of phosphine was directly proportional to the humidity.
Fumigation of Coffee beans with Aluminium phosphide, 2019
The fumigation of coffee berries and beans against Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) was c... more The fumigation of coffee berries and beans against Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) was conducted both in micro and macro level to evaluate the efficacy of Aluminium phosphide for fumigation of coffee berries and coffee beans and also to evaluate the effect of Aluminium phosphide against mortality of coffee berry borer (H. hampei). It was observed from the present study Aluminium Phosphide can be used in place of Methyl Bromide for fumigation of coffee berries and beans with 7 days exposure period with PH concentration of 3g/MT. Aluminium phosphide is found to be effective provided proper care must be taken during fumigation and comply with the procedures given in NSPM 22. Dried berries/beans with airtight fumigation sheet/cover with airtight floor sealing will be effective. In order to have success and effective control of Coffee Berry Borer, it is highly recommended that the fumigation has to be done with correct dose of phosphine, maintaining required level of phosphine concentration which has to be monitored during the entire process of fumigation with gas tight enclosures, otherwise, it will lead to failure of fumigation and insect mortality cannot be achieved. The gas tight condition can be ensured by using phosphine gas leak check detector during the entire process of fumigation.
The mirid bug, Helopeltis cinchonae Mann (Order: Hemiptera) has been recorded for the first time ... more The mirid bug, Helopeltis cinchonae Mann (Order: Hemiptera) has been recorded for the first time on six economically important horticultural crops in India. The infestation of H. cinchonae was considerably higher during June-July on guava, geranium and chrysanthemum plants; whereas during August-September on brinjal and chili plants. Mirid bug, H. cinchonae was found causing significant yield losses to guava fruits and chili plants in Meghalaya. This study provides basic knowledge on biology, feeding damage and morphological characters of H. cinchonae supported with its DNA barcode and phylogeny.
The vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae (Diptera:Agromyzidae), is an invasive polyphagous spe... more The vegetable leaf miner, Liriomyza sativae (Diptera:Agromyzidae), is an invasive polyphagous species originally known to be found in America and now spread in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. During 2016, L. sativae was observed for the first time infesting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves in experimental farms of an institute at Umiam (Meghalaya state of northeastern India). Based on museum specimens, this species was reported from India on tomato during 1994. Nevertheless, no further information is hitherto available from India apart from just new record. Considering the pest status of L. sativae across the globe, it is crucial to understand its expansion range, severity, biological attributes, and seasonal incidence on tomato in India. Taxonomic identification of different species of Liriomyza leaf miners is very complex due to morphological resemblance, and consequently, species-level identification is often done incorrectly by mistaking one species for another. Therefore, we characterized L. sativae at the molecular level and developed species specific DNA barcodes by using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene. Moreover, the information on the correct distribution, seasonal incidence, and basic biological attributes of different stages of L. sativae is reported and discussed.
The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae), although ma... more The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae), although made its first entry in continental India in 2014, has not been reported occurring in northeastern areas of the country. For the first time, we recorded T. absoluta infestation in tomato plants in the Meghalaya state of India. The identification was confirmed by standard morphological characters and DNA barcoding by amplifying cytochrome oxidase gene (CO-I) of mitochondrial DNA. During the survey, mild to severe infestation of T. absoluta has been observed on tomato plants in our experimental farms located at Umiam and neighboring villages in the Meghalaya state. The seasonal incidence of T. absoluta was studied on tomato plants in this newly invaded area. Information on fortuitous bio-control agents of T. absoluta is provided. Moreover, this study provides new knowledge useful for alerting countries that share international borders with northeastern India.
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Papers by Sankarganesh Egambaram